WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 1 00:00:00.810 --> 00:00:01.810 DIRECTOR HILDRETH: Okay. 2 00:00:01.810 --> 00:00:02.810 Panel Two is on the way up. 3 00:00:02.810 --> 00:00:03.810 Again, the hearing is being livecast and viewers are encouraged to submit questions via Twitter 4 00:00:03.810 --> 00:00:04.810 to @US_IMLS. 5 00:00:04.810 --> 00:00:09.210 So this is our data panel with Larra Clark, Miriam Jorgenson and John Horrigan. 6 00:00:09.210 --> 00:00:15.260 So this panel will explore what we know about broadband connections and services in America's 7 00:00:15.260 --> 00:00:19.500 libraries, what are the metrics we need to asses; whether sufficient connectivity is 8 00:00:19.500 --> 00:00:24.529 in place, what are the metrics that we can be used to assure success. 9 00:00:24.529 --> 00:00:28.429 So Larra Clark, our first speaker is with the American Library Association. 10 00:00:28.429 --> 00:00:34.230 She's the Director of the program on networks in the ALA Office for Information Technology 11 00:00:34.230 --> 00:00:35.820 Policy, OITP. 12 00:00:35.820 --> 00:00:41.200 I have to say there's a lot of alphabet soup today but we can have a little dictionary 13 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:46.830 that we attach to the livecast of this so everybody will know what we're talking about. 14 00:00:46.830 --> 00:00:53.010 Miriam Jorgensen who is the Research Director for the Native Nations Institute at the University 15 00:00:53.010 --> 00:00:58.640 of Arizona as well as Research Director at the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic 16 00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:05.619 Development, and finally, John Horrigan who is well- known to our library community wearing 17 00:01:05.619 --> 00:01:10.630 many different hats, currently Independent Communications and Technology Policy Consultant. 18 00:01:10.630 --> 00:01:15.030 So folks, would you talk a little bit and then we'll have a chance to ask some questions. 19 00:01:15.030 --> 00:01:16.030 MS. 20 00:01:16.030 --> 00:01:22.469 CLARK: Thank you, Susan, and to all of the IMLS Board members and staff for bringing 21 00:01:22.469 --> 00:01:28.049 us together to discuss the broadband enabled future of libraries in our communities. 22 00:01:28.049 --> 00:01:32.390 It is an honor to share the stage this morning with Chairman Wheeler and so many other distinguished 23 00:01:32.390 --> 00:01:33.390 speakers. 24 00:01:33.390 --> 00:01:37.479 The ALA is the oldest and largest library association in the world serving more than 25 00:01:37.479 --> 00:01:38.479 57,000 members. 26 00:01:38.479 --> 00:01:46.689 And ALAOITP works to secure national policies that ensure access to electronic resources 27 00:01:46.689 --> 00:01:51.509 as a means of upholding the public's right to a free and open information society. 28 00:01:51.509 --> 00:01:55.109 And I'd like to wish you all a happy National Library Week. 29 00:01:55.109 --> 00:01:59.679 This morning I will draw on more than 20 years of research from folks like John Bertot who's 30 00:01:59.679 --> 00:02:04.079 in the audience with us, and the public libraries and the internet survey, University of Washington's 31 00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:09.879 Opportunity for All study, the ALA Office for Research and Statistics and, of course, 32 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:11.060 IMLS data. 33 00:02:11.060 --> 00:02:14.540 I'd like to thank all of these researchers and funders like ILMS and the Bill and Melinda 34 00:02:14.540 --> 00:02:17.060 Gates Foundation for their many contributions. 35 00:02:17.060 --> 00:02:19.700 First, a snapshot of public libraries. 36 00:02:19.700 --> 00:02:25.791 There are more 16,400 public library buildings, more than the number of McDonald's in the 37 00:02:25.791 --> 00:02:31.110 United States which is always a good way to think about the numbers and what they can 38 00:02:31.110 --> 00:02:32.329 mean in our communities. 39 00:02:32.329 --> 00:02:37.010 And it has more than 1.5 billion in- person visits annually. 40 00:02:37.010 --> 00:02:42.260 Many of these visits include computer and internet use, both wired and wireless. 41 00:02:42.260 --> 00:02:47.519 To support this use, we've seen ongoing improvement in library internet speeds over the past decade. 42 00:02:47.519 --> 00:02:53.950 In 2004, for example, only 20 percent of libraries reported speeds greater than 1.5 megabytes 43 00:02:53.950 --> 00:02:54.960 per second. 44 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:59.540 By 2012, we had nearly flipped the statistic. 45 00:02:59.540 --> 00:03:04.670 At the other end of the spectrum, however, fewer than 10 percent of our libraries reported 46 00:03:04.670 --> 00:03:08.160 speeds of 100 megabytes per second or faster. 47 00:03:08.160 --> 00:03:13.069 Preliminary findings from this year's survey in 2014 show we've only added a few percentage 48 00:03:13.069 --> 00:03:15.430 points at this high end. 49 00:03:15.430 --> 00:03:21.019 And still roughly 10 percent of our rural and small libraries are still at 1.5 megabytes 50 00:03:21.019 --> 00:03:22.819 per second. 51 00:03:22.819 --> 00:03:28.670 About half of our libraries don't have the bandwidth that we enjoy at home and at the 52 00:03:28.670 --> 00:03:34.769 same time, they have an average of 10 computers in our rural libraries and 41 in city libraries 53 00:03:34.769 --> 00:03:40.469 and far more than that in libraries like Washington, D.C. or New York or L.A. or Chicago. 54 00:03:40.469 --> 00:03:45.459 We see nearly ubiquitous free public wifi and an exploding number of patron-owned devices. 55 00:03:45.459 --> 00:03:51.370 I'm sure anybody here -- I know I've got my laptop, my Smartphone, my iPad. 56 00:03:51.370 --> 00:03:52.819 We see this in our libraries as well. 57 00:03:52.819 --> 00:03:57.890 We're also seeing an increase in downloadable streaming and interactive digital collections 58 00:03:57.890 --> 00:04:03.290 including things like from the National Archives, of course, ranging from e-books to practice 59 00:04:03.290 --> 00:04:08.010 tests, instructional videos and then video conferencing in states like Maine where people 60 00:04:08.010 --> 00:04:13.180 are connecting with legal advice and job interviews and connecting with overseas military families. 61 00:04:13.180 --> 00:04:19.209 In fact, even as speeds improve, library staff continue to report their bandwidth is inadequate. 62 00:04:19.209 --> 00:04:23.690 As Chris mentioned, a significant majority of libraries -- actually, 66 percent of our 63 00:04:23.690 --> 00:04:29.900 libraries told us that they need more bandwidth to meet their library needs today. 64 00:04:29.900 --> 00:04:33.400 And this is, again, data that will be released later on this year. 65 00:04:33.400 --> 00:04:38.419 And 88 percent of state library agencies report that a majority of their libraries need bandwidth 66 00:04:38.419 --> 00:04:43.960 upgrades t this year or next, so the E-Rate is really, really important for libraries. 67 00:04:43.960 --> 00:04:48.650 So we're not standing still but too many libraries are falling behind right now. 68 00:04:48.650 --> 00:04:53.110 This need for speed is driven by modern library services and the unique libraries have as 69 00:04:53.110 --> 00:04:54.560 the one place for all. 70 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:58.740 Nearly two-thirds of libraries report they are the only provider of free access to computers 71 00:04:58.740 --> 00:05:00.120 and the internet. 72 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:06.430 In one year, libraries posted more than 341 million computer uses which does not include 73 00:05:06.430 --> 00:05:08.780 the wireless access. 74 00:05:08.780 --> 00:05:13.500 Libraries leverage internet access to empower library users and support education, employment 75 00:05:13.500 --> 00:05:15.490 and entrepreneurship. 76 00:05:15.490 --> 00:05:19.650 I think John will talk a little more about public use, so I'll simply add a few examples 77 00:05:19.650 --> 00:05:22.080 from the Opportunity for All study. 78 00:05:22.080 --> 00:05:26.300 In one year, roughly 30 million people use a library's computer or internet access for 79 00:05:26.300 --> 00:05:29.100 employment or career purposes. 80 00:05:29.100 --> 00:05:34.789 About 32.5 million use library technology to achieve educational goals including taking 81 00:05:34.789 --> 00:05:39.640 online classes, completing schoolwork or researching college programs. 82 00:05:39.640 --> 00:05:44.610 And 26 million people use library connections to access government information, services 83 00:05:44.610 --> 00:05:46.300 and officials. 84 00:05:46.300 --> 00:05:49.789 Underlying many of these uses is the need for many people to increase their digital 85 00:05:49.789 --> 00:05:51.550 literacy skills. 86 00:05:51.550 --> 00:05:55.380 Nearly all libraries provide formal or informal assistance learning everything from setting 87 00:05:55.380 --> 00:06:03.289 up an email address to uploading job applications to using new e-book readers and tablets, also 88 00:06:03.289 --> 00:06:05.259 called "tech petting zoos." 89 00:06:05.259 --> 00:06:09.819 So we have a lot of data to understand the library technology landscape but we also have 90 00:06:09.819 --> 00:06:10.819 gaps. 91 00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:14.919 We still don't know the number of people that are using library wifi for instance at the 92 00:06:14.919 --> 00:06:19.150 state or national level -- we're just beginning to fill that gap -- or about the quality of 93 00:06:19.150 --> 00:06:21.120 the access they experience. 94 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:24.960 We're starting to do bandwidth gaps now through the digital inclusion survey so we'll have 95 00:06:24.960 --> 00:06:27.879 a better grasp on this probably later on this year. 96 00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:32.220 We also lack national information on remote use of library resources including library 97 00:06:32.220 --> 00:06:37.280 website visits, time spent online and with what types of library resources. 98 00:06:37.280 --> 00:06:43.050 But perhaps most glaringly today, we have a wealth of data with USAC that remains largely 99 00:06:43.050 --> 00:06:44.520 locked away from us. 100 00:06:44.520 --> 00:06:50.610 I'm thrilled that IMLS has begun to drill down into this rich vein but we really need 101 00:06:50.610 --> 00:06:56.229 it to be publicly available and the ALA continues to call for more data transparency including 102 00:06:56.229 --> 00:06:59.509 Block 4 of the E-Rate information. 103 00:06:59.509 --> 00:07:04.800 In closing, though, I'd like to say that data is useful as a rearview mirror but not a crystal 104 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:06.240 ball. 105 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:12.370 In a focus group five years ago, five years ago, an Indiana librarian put it this way. 106 00:07:12.370 --> 00:07:18.669 "At one time we would have said a T1 line was just the world but it changes too fast. 107 00:07:18.669 --> 00:07:20.169 This was in the course of two years. 108 00:07:20.169 --> 00:07:26.159 We went from one T1 to two T1s to three T1s to now 15 megabytes of fiber. 109 00:07:26.159 --> 00:07:30.220 Unfortunately, more than half of libraries haven't caught up with her. 110 00:07:30.220 --> 00:07:33.930 We hear from today's gigabyte libraries that abundant bandwidth can be a mighty library 111 00:07:33.930 --> 00:07:41.280 service that enables robust, simultaneous use of recording studies and 3D modeling camps, 112 00:07:41.280 --> 00:07:45.120 new community partnerships and co- working spaces like here at D.C. 113 00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:50.819 Public, Telehealth, access to electronic health records and global connections. 114 00:07:50.819 --> 00:07:53.750 Bandwidth should not limit what's possible through our libraries. 115 00:07:53.750 --> 00:07:56.610 We need to bring more gigabyte libraries to our communities. 116 00:07:56.610 --> 00:07:59.610 Thank you very much. 117 00:07:59.610 --> 00:08:05.080 (Applause) DR. 118 00:08:05.080 --> 00:08:17.740 JORGENSEN: Larra is a lot taller than I am. 119 00:08:17.740 --> 00:08:22.370 Director Hildreth, distinguished members of the panel and also Chairman Wheeler and Mr. 120 00:08:22.370 --> 00:08:27.530 Power, thank you for convening this panel and also for your opening remarks. 121 00:08:27.530 --> 00:08:32.050 As Susan told you, my name is Miriam Jorgensen and I'm Research Director at the Native Nations 122 00:08:32.050 --> 00:08:36.310 Institute at the University of Arizona and also the Harvard Project on American Indian 123 00:08:36.310 --> 00:08:38.380 Economic Development. 124 00:08:38.380 --> 00:08:42.690 At the Harvard Project and Native Nations Institute, I work to understand the conditions 125 00:08:42.690 --> 00:08:47.800 that lead to better economic and wellbeing outcomes for American Indians and Alaska natives 126 00:08:47.800 --> 00:08:50.130 living in their homelands. 127 00:08:50.130 --> 00:08:53.200 These are critical questions. 128 00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:56.660 Reservation-based American Indians and Alaska natives remain some of the poorest people 129 00:08:56.660 --> 00:08:59.170 in the United States. 130 00:08:59.170 --> 00:09:04.120 Recent research by Harvard Project affiliated economists Randall Akee and Jonathan Taylor 131 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:09.660 reminds us that even in 2010, per capita incomes for American Indians living on reservations 132 00:09:09.660 --> 00:09:13.220 remained less than half of the U.S. average. 133 00:09:13.220 --> 00:09:18.920 They're below the per capita incomes of Hispanics, African Americans and Asian Americans by a 134 00:09:18.920 --> 00:09:21.770 very wide margin. 135 00:09:21.770 --> 00:09:26.490 There are over 560 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska native nations in the United 136 00:09:26.490 --> 00:09:33.120 States, more than 300 in the lower 48 states and more than 200 in Alaska. 137 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:37.180 Finding ways to make progress against these socioeconomic shortfalls is vital for the 138 00:09:37.180 --> 00:09:42.320 many people living in these communities who would like to return to these communities 139 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:47.100 and even for the many non-native United States citizens who live near American Indian and 140 00:09:47.100 --> 00:09:48.720 Alaska native lands. 141 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:54.620 It is with this background that I come to my work with the Association of Tribal Archives 142 00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:58.570 Libraries and Museums, also known as ATAM. 143 00:09:58.570 --> 00:10:04.281 It's a non-profit native-led organization founded in 2010 with support from IMLS -- thank 144 00:10:04.281 --> 00:10:08.860 you very much for that -- that provides culturally relevant training and services to the nation's 145 00:10:08.860 --> 00:10:13.029 519 tribal archives libraries and museums. 146 00:10:13.029 --> 00:10:18.010 My work with ATAM has largely involved survey and statistical data analysis. 147 00:10:18.010 --> 00:10:22.660 Most recently, I've partnered with ATAM staff and an ATAM board member, Traci Morris, who's 148 00:10:22.660 --> 00:10:27.670 an expert in tribal digital media, to conduct a study which we have called "Digital Inclusion 149 00:10:27.670 --> 00:10:31.670 in Indian Country: The Role of Tribal Libraries." 150 00:10:31.670 --> 00:10:35.740 The findings from this study will be released in several weeks but I'd like to share six 151 00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:40.290 preliminary findings as I believe they are important to the discussion today and because 152 00:10:40.290 --> 00:10:45.709 they ultimately speak to the possibility for changed life outcomes for citizens of American 153 00:10:45.709 --> 00:10:48.050 Indian and Alaska native nations. 154 00:10:48.050 --> 00:10:54.529 First, tribal libraries are less able to offer internet access than our non-native public 155 00:10:54.529 --> 00:10:55.529 libraries. 156 00:10:55.529 --> 00:11:00.360 Only 88 percent of tribal libraries offer internet access as compared to between 95 157 00:11:00.360 --> 00:11:06.150 to 99 percent depending on the statistics you refer to of non-tribal public libraries. 158 00:11:06.150 --> 00:11:10.360 Additionally, nearly 40 percent of tribal libraries rate the acquisition of more public 159 00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:15.829 access computers as extremely important, the highest rating that they could give it. 160 00:11:15.829 --> 00:11:22.230 Second, tribal libraries are key points of internet access for reservation residents. 161 00:11:22.230 --> 00:11:26.019 Forty- three percent of tribal libraries that offer public access are the only source of 162 00:11:26.019 --> 00:11:30.341 free public computer and internet access in their communities, and two-thirds of tribal 163 00:11:30.341 --> 00:11:34.430 libraries are in communities where no more than 30 percent of homes have any internet 164 00:11:34.430 --> 00:11:35.430 access. 165 00:11:35.430 --> 00:11:39.149 In fact, many have no internet access at all. 166 00:11:39.149 --> 00:11:44.589 Third, a significant fraction of tribal libraries with access do not have very good access and 167 00:11:44.589 --> 00:11:47.860 as Larra has pointed out, that's critically important. 168 00:11:47.860 --> 00:11:52.160 Of 100 tribal libraries that reported speed of their internet connection, fully one- third 169 00:11:52.160 --> 00:11:57.160 cannot offer connection speeds greater than 3 megabytes per second which is bare minimum 170 00:11:57.160 --> 00:12:01.800 for operating many web-based applications that improve human capital and offer connections 171 00:12:01.800 --> 00:12:03.570 to the broader economy. 172 00:12:03.570 --> 00:12:10.580 Fourth, the E-Rate Program could make a difference but it's vastly underutilized by tribal libraries. 173 00:12:10.580 --> 00:12:17.089 An earlier study I did for ATAM in 2011 found that at most, 15 percent of reporting tribal 174 00:12:17.089 --> 00:12:19.050 libraries received E-Rate discounts. 175 00:12:19.050 --> 00:12:25.871 By comparison, data released just yesterday by IMLS suggests that since 2000, 90 percent 176 00:12:25.871 --> 00:12:29.510 of non-tribal public libraries have benefitted from E-Rate. 177 00:12:29.510 --> 00:12:32.950 Data from our survey this year points out that only 17 percent of tribal libraries have 178 00:12:32.950 --> 00:12:35.550 even applied for E-Rate. 179 00:12:35.550 --> 00:12:37.389 This leads to my fifth point. 180 00:12:37.389 --> 00:12:42.230 Confusion over eligibility and a general lack of awareness limits tribal libraries access 181 00:12:42.230 --> 00:12:43.230 to E-Rate. 182 00:12:43.230 --> 00:12:47.279 Twenty- eight percent of reporting libraries indicated that they were unsure if their library 183 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:53.190 was eligible for E- Rate and another 50 percent said that they'd never even heard of the program. 184 00:12:53.190 --> 00:12:56.910 These findings are consistent with the fact that information about E-Rate has never been 185 00:12:56.910 --> 00:13:00.680 disseminated specifically to the tribal library community. 186 00:13:00.680 --> 00:13:06.870 Sixth, and circling back to the points that I made at the outset, internet access at tribal 187 00:13:06.870 --> 00:13:11.060 libraries supports community prosperity and wellbeing. 188 00:13:11.060 --> 00:13:15.260 Tribal libraries do not simply offer public access to computers and the internet. 189 00:13:15.260 --> 00:13:20.440 They provide training that helps patrons make use of the possibilities technology offers. 190 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:23.990 Half of tribal libraries report providing training in general internet and computer 191 00:13:23.990 --> 00:13:25.470 use. 192 00:13:25.470 --> 00:13:30.040 Forty percent provide training in how to access government information such as Social Security, 193 00:13:30.040 --> 00:13:32.470 Medicare and income tax data. 194 00:13:32.470 --> 00:13:36.769 Another 40 percent offer training on how to find job-related information. 195 00:13:36.769 --> 00:13:42.459 Thirty-five percent offer training and access to health-related information. 196 00:13:42.459 --> 00:13:48.700 A tribal librarian from the Southwest summarizes the ideas of my testimony well. 197 00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:57.880 He said, "(Inaudible), social services resources and college online homework. 198 00:13:57.880 --> 00:14:01.920 The computers allow them to access information that will improve their lives, knowledge not 199 00:14:01.920 --> 00:14:05.720 readily available to them because they do not have technology at home. 200 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:09.670 Most connect to the internet by a cell phone and hang around our library during off hours 201 00:14:09.670 --> 00:14:10.670 to access wifi. 202 00:14:10.670 --> 00:14:13.570 Our computers are busy all day from open to close. 203 00:14:13.570 --> 00:14:18.350 It is beautiful to see our tribal people learning that way but it's sad that we do not have 204 00:14:18.350 --> 00:14:22.190 more than six computers and that they do not have them at home. 205 00:14:22.190 --> 00:14:26.040 Our statistics reflect the need for more stations for our population base." 206 00:14:26.040 --> 00:14:27.690 And this is a shout-out to Chris. 207 00:14:27.690 --> 00:14:32.110 He also added, "If you see anyone form the Gates Foundation, please let them know." 208 00:14:32.110 --> 00:14:33.230 (Laughter) DR. 209 00:14:33.230 --> 00:14:39.070 JORGENSEN: In conclusion, I'll note that tribal libraries are culture bearers for their nations 210 00:14:39.070 --> 00:14:45.279 collecting and making available key materials about language, history and material culture. 211 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:50.070 At the same time, tribal libraries are often the only place in native communities where 212 00:14:50.070 --> 00:14:55.600 tribal members can access social services, jobs, banking and travel information and stay 213 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:58.019 in touch with distant friends and family. 214 00:14:58.019 --> 00:15:03.630 The access that tribal libraries provide makes tribal people's lives better every day. 215 00:15:03.630 --> 00:15:09.540 They're at once part of the past and part of the future of native nations. 216 00:15:09.540 --> 00:15:14.790 I commend the Institute for Museum and Library Services for its interest in Indian Country 217 00:15:14.790 --> 00:15:16.290 and for its support of ATAM. 218 00:15:16.290 --> 00:15:21.940 I am hopeful that these forthcoming data point to a pathway for significantly improved broadband 219 00:15:21.940 --> 00:15:26.910 access in tribal communities through their tribal library system. 220 00:15:26.910 --> 00:15:33.779 Thank you for your invitation to testify and I welcome any questions that you might have. 221 00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:38.230 (Applause) DIRECTOR HILDRETH: We'll have some questions 222 00:15:38.230 --> 00:15:39.720 for you later, Miriam. 223 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:43.710 And IMLS is totally behind you working to try to make sure our tribal libraries have 224 00:15:43.710 --> 00:15:45.380 better access. 225 00:15:45.380 --> 00:15:46.540 John. 226 00:15:46.540 --> 00:15:47.699 DR. 227 00:15:47.699 --> 00:15:52.769 HORRIGAN: Thank you very much, Susan, and let me first thank IMLS for inviting me to 228 00:15:52.769 --> 00:15:54.360 participate in today's hearing. 229 00:15:54.360 --> 00:16:00.389 It's wonderful to be here and see so many friends and familiar faces both on the dais 230 00:16:00.389 --> 00:16:02.300 and in the audience. 231 00:16:02.300 --> 00:16:08.790 Let me begin by saying that libraries fill two important roles in a society where more 232 00:16:08.790 --> 00:16:11.949 and more goods and services depend on the internet. 233 00:16:11.949 --> 00:16:16.199 I want to touch on them today in making the case that investments and additional bandwidth 234 00:16:16.199 --> 00:16:21.350 in libraries are critically important to helping all Americans have a chance to translate digital 235 00:16:21.350 --> 00:16:25.820 abundance into tools that can open doors to connectivity, and I'm going to do it with 236 00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:28.120 a bunch of data points. 237 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:33.480 First, libraries serve a critical role in providing a place where people can improve 238 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:39.649 their level of digital skills and the need to improve people's digital skills is important 239 00:16:39.649 --> 00:16:43.300 and I think it's often overlooked in today's mainstream discourse. 240 00:16:43.300 --> 00:16:49.759 Our digital culture tends to assume that once early adopting elites get the latest technology 241 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:55.310 then everybody follows and immediately gets it; yet there's amble evidence that there 242 00:16:55.310 --> 00:17:01.209 is wide variation in the level of digital skills in the general population. 243 00:17:01.209 --> 00:17:04.760 Recent research I've done that I'm going to be releasing in a few weeks, so you get to 244 00:17:04.760 --> 00:17:10.750 hear it first, finds that based on a 2013 survey that there is significant variation 245 00:17:10.750 --> 00:17:15.950 in the digital skills even among people who have all the digital tools that we take for 246 00:17:15.950 --> 00:17:17.210 granted today. 247 00:17:17.210 --> 00:17:24.680 Today, 80 percent of Americans have advanced internet access and by that I mean they either 248 00:17:24.680 --> 00:17:28.780 have broadband at home or they have a Smartphone. 249 00:17:28.780 --> 00:17:35.920 Within this group of highly wired people, nearly one-fifth or 18 percent has low levels 250 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:37.140 of digital skills. 251 00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:39.300 That's 34 million Americans. 252 00:17:39.300 --> 00:17:45.460 And low levels of digital skills tracks closely with low levels of online activity, particularly 253 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:50.860 in consequential areas such as looking for work or going to a government website. 254 00:17:50.860 --> 00:17:56.920 For instance, among those with low digital skills, just 10 percent use the internet during 255 00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:59.290 their most recent job search. 256 00:17:59.290 --> 00:18:05.290 For those with high levels of digital skills, 52 percent use the internet in their most 257 00:18:05.290 --> 00:18:07.000 recent job search. 258 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:11.440 Taking another example among those with low digital skills, just two percent say they 259 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:13.400 have ever taken a class on line. 260 00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:19.790 Among those with high levels of digital skills, 26 percent had taken a class online, a huge 261 00:18:19.790 --> 00:18:21.100 gap. 262 00:18:21.100 --> 00:18:26.560 These differences in online use are important because for the most part, it's the expectation 263 00:18:26.560 --> 00:18:31.330 in society that everyone is connected at home with broadband. 264 00:18:31.330 --> 00:18:36.630 Recent research I've done on the Comcast Internet Essentials program which serves low income 265 00:18:36.630 --> 00:18:43.390 families with school-age children who get free or reduced prices shows this. 266 00:18:43.390 --> 00:18:50.050 When asked, these set of new internet users recently signed on via Comcast Internet Essentials. 267 00:18:50.050 --> 00:18:55.380 When asked, 83 percent of those respondents said that their children's school expected 268 00:18:55.380 --> 00:19:02.420 that they internet access at home; 65 percent said that their financial institutions or 269 00:19:02.420 --> 00:19:07.760 banks expected that they have broadband at home; and 53 percent said that their health 270 00:19:07.760 --> 00:19:11.710 insurance companies expected that they have broadband at home. 271 00:19:11.710 --> 00:19:17.460 So there are two things going on; one, more and more institutions expect people have connectivity 272 00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:23.310 online at home and at the same time, many Americans have insufficient levels of digital 273 00:19:23.310 --> 00:19:24.810 skills. 274 00:19:24.810 --> 00:19:29.480 This means we need to begin to look at digital equity differently. 275 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:34.750 Stakeholders often view digital skills as an issue that only affects the disconnected, 276 00:19:34.750 --> 00:19:38.250 people on the other side of the digital divide. 277 00:19:38.250 --> 00:19:44.090 But as I've shown, many people, about one-fifth of adults with advanced online access have 278 00:19:44.090 --> 00:19:47.460 low levels of digital skills. 279 00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:53.300 This means they lack digital readiness which I think is the term that captures the scope 280 00:19:53.300 --> 00:19:58.830 of the challenge we have in ensuring that all segments of society are ready for next 281 00:19:58.830 --> 00:20:02.960 generation information and communications technology. 282 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:08.911 This leads to my second point for libraries; namely, that they are the vanguard and the 283 00:20:08.911 --> 00:20:15.760 forces we bring to bear to bolster digital readiness for the entire population. 284 00:20:15.760 --> 00:20:20.080 Libraries are both access points for those without broadband at home and information 285 00:20:20.080 --> 00:20:23.410 resources for people with service. 286 00:20:23.410 --> 00:20:27.820 We know, according to the Pew Research Center, that about 30 percent of Americans do not 287 00:20:27.820 --> 00:20:29.080 have broadband at home. 288 00:20:29.080 --> 00:20:36.290 That's a 2013 figure and that translates into 34 million households or 90 million people. 289 00:20:36.290 --> 00:20:39.100 But about half of those people are internet users. 290 00:20:39.100 --> 00:20:42.710 They just don't have high speed service at home. 291 00:20:42.710 --> 00:20:48.580 This creates the need for third places for online access, not home, not work, but a place 292 00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:51.000 where people can use the internet. 293 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:55.000 Libraries clearly fill that third place through the provision of public internet terminals 294 00:20:55.000 --> 00:21:00.560 for those without access and for many who do have access at home. 295 00:21:00.560 --> 00:21:06.710 But they do more as they also help people negotiate a complex and quickly changing information 296 00:21:06.710 --> 00:21:07.710 environment. 297 00:21:07.710 --> 00:21:11.850 Here are some data points from the Pew Research Center to help eliminate this. 298 00:21:11.850 --> 00:21:17.830 Thirty- five percent of Americans in 2012 said that they had accessed the internet at 299 00:21:17.830 --> 00:21:19.190 a library for free. 300 00:21:19.190 --> 00:21:25.540 This is the same figure, 35 percent, that we found in a survey I conducted in 2009 for 301 00:21:25.540 --> 00:21:30.440 the National Broadband Plan which showed that at that time, 35 percent of Americans had 302 00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:33.800 used the internet at a library for free. 303 00:21:33.800 --> 00:21:39.090 Forty-four percent of American adults have used a public library website, 30 percent 304 00:21:39.090 --> 00:21:45.900 within the last year, and 77 percent of Americans say that free access to computers and the 305 00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:51.410 internet is a very important service for libraries to provide. 306 00:21:51.410 --> 00:21:56.920 And Americans expect more from libraries as technology changes in a digital age. 307 00:21:56.920 --> 00:22:02.430 Again, according to the Pew Research Center, 63 percent of Americans over the age of 16 308 00:22:02.430 --> 00:22:08.640 say they are likely to use mobile apps that libraries may provide to access programs and 309 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:14.820 services at the library; 65 percent of library patrons say they would like to have a "tech 310 00:22:14.820 --> 00:22:19.840 petting zoo" to try new technology; and 60 percent would like to have a digital media 311 00:22:19.840 --> 00:22:23.930 lab to help them digitize personal material. 312 00:22:23.930 --> 00:22:32.030 In conclusion, let me point out the temptation to think that we've lived through most of 313 00:22:32.030 --> 00:22:36.470 the internet revolution; yet we've only lived through the very beginning. 314 00:22:36.470 --> 00:22:41.520 The advent of the internet of things raises the stakes and changes the stakes as the internet's 315 00:22:41.520 --> 00:22:45.750 usefulness will expand in unforeseen ways. 316 00:22:45.750 --> 00:22:51.760 This will challenge many of us, many of us who are highly wired to keep up with the necessary 317 00:22:51.760 --> 00:22:57.250 knowledge to troubleshoot gadgets and understand new applications. 318 00:22:57.250 --> 00:23:02.590 That means as a society, we will need to provide additional educational resources to learn 319 00:23:02.590 --> 00:23:05.460 what these new services are all about. 320 00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:08.400 This leads to three implications I want to leave you with. 321 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:13.880 One, digital readiness is the next great social policy challenge for those interested in equity 322 00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:15.290 in the internet. 323 00:23:15.290 --> 00:23:19.880 Two, libraries and librarians will be on the front lines in helping American's negotiate 324 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:23.050 a world where digital applications matter more and more. 325 00:23:23.050 --> 00:23:28.620 And finally, libraries will have more demands placed on them in time which makes the case 326 00:23:28.620 --> 00:23:32.370 for them to have additional bandwidth very compelling. 327 00:23:32.370 --> 00:23:33.880 Thank you very much. 328 00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:39.090 (Applause) DIRECTOR HILDRETH: Okay. 329 00:23:39.090 --> 00:23:40.790 We have some questions for our panel. 330 00:23:40.790 --> 00:23:46.770 I don't know if we have any audience questions, but I'm so excited to hear the term "digital 331 00:23:46.770 --> 00:23:47.770 readiness." 332 00:23:47.770 --> 00:23:53.150 We have been struggling with that term for so long and we use the term "digital literacy" 333 00:23:53.150 --> 00:23:56.950 and literacy doesn't - - just people think "Well, what does that mean; I'm not literate? 334 00:23:56.950 --> 00:23:59.700 That is just the term of the day, "digital readiness." 335 00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:01.280 So thank you, John. 336 00:24:01.280 --> 00:24:02.960 Carla, did you have a question? 337 00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:04.940 MEMBER HAYDEN: Back in it again. 338 00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:08.370 DIRECTOR HILDRETH: This is -- then we're going to take you off the stage, Carla. 339 00:24:08.370 --> 00:24:09.370 So, okay, go ahead. 340 00:24:09.370 --> 00:24:14.080 MEMBER HAYDEN: However, and especially Larra and Don, what are some of the changes that 341 00:24:14.080 --> 00:24:19.780 libraries face in terms of collecting better data and providing the things that you need 342 00:24:19.780 --> 00:24:21.400 to make a case? 343 00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:22.400 MS. 344 00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:26.350 CLARK: Well, I think there are a few challenges. 345 00:24:26.350 --> 00:24:28.410 One is just library staff time. 346 00:24:28.410 --> 00:24:34.630 A lot of our libraries -- I mean I think everybody feels that strain if you will -- but many 347 00:24:34.630 --> 00:24:39.630 of our libraries may only have a few staff people and so the data collection piece can 348 00:24:39.630 --> 00:24:41.420 be tricky. 349 00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:44.730 Gathering some of the digital statistics also is hard. 350 00:24:44.730 --> 00:24:48.410 You know, where do you collect the data, how do you collect the data, the methodology is 351 00:24:48.410 --> 00:24:51.060 really important. 352 00:24:51.060 --> 00:24:55.950 And there was a third thing that I'm just blanking on that just came into my head so 353 00:24:55.950 --> 00:24:57.340 maybe I'll -- DIRECTOR HILDRETH: What about fatigue, survey 354 00:24:57.340 --> 00:24:58.340 fatigue? 355 00:24:58.340 --> 00:24:59.340 MS. 356 00:24:59.340 --> 00:25:03.830 CLARK: Well, survey fatigue is always an issue but maybe I'll let you, John, while I think 357 00:25:03.830 --> 00:25:04.860 of my third thing. 358 00:25:04.860 --> 00:25:05.860 DR. 359 00:25:05.860 --> 00:25:10.730 HORRIGAN: I'll just start with methodology and go to intentional research questions frames 360 00:25:10.730 --> 00:25:14.950 to assess outcomes from library access at the internet. 361 00:25:14.950 --> 00:25:22.680 And that's not something librarians are probably well-suited to do so I think it re-creates 362 00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:28.800 the need for funding for university researchers to get in there and really be on the ground 363 00:25:28.800 --> 00:25:33.080 and assessing outcomes because inevitably -- having, you know, worked at the FCC on 364 00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:37.970 the Broadband plan, you get questions from policy makers on what are the outcomes, what 365 00:25:37.970 --> 00:25:39.000 dial was moved. 366 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:41.190 And I think we have to be very intentional about that. 367 00:25:41.190 --> 00:25:42.190 MS. 368 00:25:42.190 --> 00:25:44.820 CLARK: What I was going to say -- the third thing that when I think about our colleagues 369 00:25:44.820 --> 00:25:48.360 in the school environment, for instance, is that our community comes in and out of the 370 00:25:48.360 --> 00:25:52.160 libraries, that, you know, we have these spikes in access and we have a strong commitment 371 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:53.690 to privacy. 372 00:25:53.690 --> 00:25:58.390 And so folks come in and out of and use our library resources and keeping track and getting 373 00:25:58.390 --> 00:26:02.490 to those outcomes can be much more challenging in the library environment as opposed to, 374 00:26:02.490 --> 00:26:05.590 you know, having a steady population that is in the school building every day. 375 00:26:05.590 --> 00:26:09.870 So I think that's another challenge for really being able to capture the impact of library 376 00:26:09.870 --> 00:26:10.870 service. 377 00:26:10.870 --> 00:26:15.940 DIRECTOR HILDRETH: So I know our Board member, Charles Benton, is going to pose a question 378 00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:21.210 for Miriam but I just wanted to acknowledge that Charles Benton, who is on our Board and 379 00:26:21.210 --> 00:26:26.180 also was formerly on the National Commission Board, has been committed his entire life 380 00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:27.820 to digital access. 381 00:26:27.820 --> 00:26:29.460 And we know he's a great champion. 382 00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:30.660 He's out there all the time. 383 00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:34.730 We're so happy he could be with us today and really is a -- he's been a leader for years 384 00:26:34.730 --> 00:26:35.830 in this area. 385 00:26:35.830 --> 00:26:38.000 So, Charles, question. 386 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:40.900 MEMBER BENTON: Thank you. 387 00:26:40.900 --> 00:26:44.710 I've got a script here. 388 00:26:44.710 --> 00:26:52.590 Miriam, I was really interested in your point that there is very little information about 389 00:26:52.590 --> 00:26:57.170 E- Rate that's being shared with tribal libraries. 390 00:26:57.170 --> 00:27:07.890 And I'm wondering how -- what your thoughts are on funding for digital access, especially 391 00:27:07.890 --> 00:27:16.340 given the newest efforts to support Native American library institutions, starting with 392 00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:21.910 the many resolutions of the first White House conference on library and information services 393 00:27:21.910 --> 00:27:29.500 that were adopted and incorporated into LSTA let alone the most recent New America -- New 394 00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:34.300 Media, Technology and Internet Use in Indian Country and Benton Foundation's Native Networks 395 00:27:34.300 --> 00:27:37.100 and Telecommunication Information in Indian Country? 396 00:27:37.100 --> 00:27:40.580 So there's a lot of research that's going on. 397 00:27:40.580 --> 00:27:41.800 What's to do about this? 398 00:27:41.800 --> 00:27:48.920 How do we get the ball moving in terms of digital access in Native American libraries? 399 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:49.920 DR. 400 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:53.340 JORGENSEN: So I really appreciate that question because I think there are some simple things 401 00:27:53.340 --> 00:27:54.470 that can be done. 402 00:27:54.470 --> 00:27:59.530 I think that there have been some policy changes that have unintentionally left Native people 403 00:27:59.530 --> 00:28:03.610 out or have made it more difficult for tribes to access funding and services. 404 00:28:03.610 --> 00:28:08.930 So the shift from the Library Construction Services Act to the Library Technology Services 405 00:28:08.930 --> 00:28:14.770 Act created some barriers and those are simple shifts that can be removed which make it more 406 00:28:14.770 --> 00:28:20.930 difficult for tribal libraries to access those funds and we can provide further information. 407 00:28:20.930 --> 00:28:24.660 I'll point to my colleague, Susan Feller, who is the Executive Director of the Association 408 00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:29.020 of Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums, who's provided a brief to the FCC that talks 409 00:28:29.020 --> 00:28:32.370 about what some of those pretty simple policy changes are. 410 00:28:32.370 --> 00:28:36.450 One of the issues, for instance, is around the fact that there are requirements that 411 00:28:36.450 --> 00:28:40.630 tribes interface with state library associations but there are barriers to preventing state 412 00:28:40.630 --> 00:28:43.090 library associations to interface with tribes. 413 00:28:43.090 --> 00:28:46.450 So there are sort of requirements one direction that can't be met the other direction which 414 00:28:46.450 --> 00:28:49.130 is a simple policy sort of change the lever. 415 00:28:49.130 --> 00:28:53.610 I think that just getting information out there and also making some of the applications 416 00:28:53.610 --> 00:28:57.910 easier to do and providing some support for some of the funding applications is also a 417 00:28:57.910 --> 00:29:02.220 relatively simple policy change that can be done. 418 00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:05.640 Overall, something that would be potentially a little bit more costly but I think would 419 00:29:05.640 --> 00:29:11.140 have long-term payoffs though is that I think that within the overall structure of management 420 00:29:11.140 --> 00:29:15.620 of library agencies, whether or not that's at IMLS or in another setting, there needs 421 00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:20.330 to be just more intentional focus on tribal libraries, whether or not that's a tribal 422 00:29:20.330 --> 00:29:24.440 library agency that's dedicated to tribal libraries or increased staff members who are 423 00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:30.450 going to be able to interface at that sort of between the feds, between the states and 424 00:29:30.450 --> 00:29:31.790 between tribal libraries. 425 00:29:31.790 --> 00:29:37.520 We've seen in other policy areas that that kind of a specific focus, always interjecting 426 00:29:37.520 --> 00:29:41.510 that word "tribal" into the funding stream or the policy stream has made a tremendous 427 00:29:41.510 --> 00:29:42.650 amount of difference. 428 00:29:42.650 --> 00:29:45.950 And it's great that we have now over a decade of research to back that up. 429 00:29:45.950 --> 00:29:47.230 DIRECTOR HILDRETH: Thank you. 430 00:29:47.230 --> 00:29:48.950 Winston, did you have a question? 431 00:29:48.950 --> 00:29:50.180 MEMBER TABB: Yes, I do. 432 00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:51.740 I have a question for John. 433 00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:57.500 As people have more and more ways today to go online, where do you libraries, particularly 434 00:29:57.500 --> 00:30:01.920 our digital resources, fit into the way that people find the information that's most important 435 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:02.920 to them? 436 00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:05.360 What is our niche in this information-rich world? 437 00:30:05.360 --> 00:30:06.360 DR. 438 00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:12.850 HORRIGAN: I think a lot has to do with giving people not just the resources to bolster their 439 00:30:12.850 --> 00:30:18.880 digital readiness but trust and curating content so that people can trust that the information 440 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:21.870 they're getting on how to use a new application is safe. 441 00:30:21.870 --> 00:30:26.400 A lot of these new applications require sharing a lot of personal data and if you look at 442 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:30.300 barriers to broadband adoption, particularly among older people, the worries about the 443 00:30:30.300 --> 00:30:36.630 possible hazards of online access are huge barriers, not only to adoption to sustained 444 00:30:36.630 --> 00:30:37.630 use. 445 00:30:37.630 --> 00:30:39.130 So libraries can fill a critical role in that regard. 446 00:30:39.130 --> 00:30:42.170 DIRECTOR HILDRETH: John, just a quick follow-up for you. 447 00:30:42.170 --> 00:30:47.690 Is there a correlation between those who, in your research, have low levels of digital 448 00:30:47.690 --> 00:30:51.660 skills and the types of devices they use? 449 00:30:51.660 --> 00:30:52.660 DR. 450 00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:53.710 HORRIGAN: Yes. 451 00:30:53.710 --> 00:31:02.360 Well, certainly with low levels of digital skills have lower levels of access assets. 452 00:31:02.360 --> 00:31:07.770 But just to reiterate a point I made during my remarks, the one-fifth of people with low 453 00:31:07.770 --> 00:31:13.100 levels of digital skills have two big on-ramps that are key today, broadband at home and 454 00:31:13.100 --> 00:31:14.210 Smartphones. 455 00:31:14.210 --> 00:31:23.351 So if you do control for all sorts of factors, age, income, amount of online assets, this 456 00:31:23.351 --> 00:31:26.120 digital skills gap, this digital readiness gap is real. 457 00:31:26.120 --> 00:31:27.480 DIRECTOR HILDRETH: Okay. 458 00:31:27.480 --> 00:31:28.710 Well, thank you very much. 459 00:31:28.710 --> 00:31:29.880 That's good information to have. 460 00:31:29.880 --> 00:31:35.040 So I'd like a round of applause for our second panel and we'll bring up our third panel. 461 00:31:35.040 --> 00:31:35.500 Thank you.